Aston Villa sign Japanese international forward Hijikata | OneFootball

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Japanese international forward Maya Hijikata.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Villans this morning.

The 21-year-old attacker joins Aston Villa from Japanese SOMPO WE League club Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza. Hijikata was a member of the Beleza academy in her youth before going on to graduate to the senior team. The forward has made more than 50 appearances for Beleza at first team level, regularly finding the back of the opposition net.

On the international stage, Hijikata represented Japan at the Asian Games in 2022. She made five appearances and scored two goals as Nadeshiko won the tournament. Hijikata dropped back into the youth system after that achievement and she went on to claim the Golden Boot at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup last year. She will now be targeting a return to the senior international fold.

After bringing Hijikata to Aston Villa, the club’s Director of Women’s Football, Marisa Ewers said “Maya is a promising and versatile forward, and we’re excited to bring her to Aston Villa.

“She has great technical ability and we believe she is a big part of our future.”

Hijikata is Aston Villa’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window.